From the palm trees to the ocean shore, most people may not think of Los Angeles winter as a stereotypical winter wonderland. However, as L.A. has been hit with stormy weather this wintertime, some members of the Archer community compared it to winter weather in other parts of the U.S.
The Oracle sent a survey to the community that asked about their different winter traditions and experiences. Harley Nichols (‘29) responded to the survey and wrote about her experiences living in New York.
“I lived in New York, and it would be so cold. I [have] a late March birthday, and it would always still be snowing on my birthday. But I liked getting warm hot chocolate, making snowmen, etc. I don’t really know if one is better than the other, but they are very different,” Nichols wrote. “When it gets cold, I really just need a hoodie and pants. It doesn’t really get ‘cold’ here in the same way.”
When community members were asked the question, “How do you prepare for the cold?,” many people wrote they wear sweaters, layer clothing items and drink warm beverages during the winter months. Zoe Eyraud (’28) described the rain this year as a gift.
“We don’t really have a lot of weather here. I think the rain was a fun treat for me. My family got out their rain jackets and stuff,” Eyraud wrote.
Sixth grader Sahana Kella reflected on her experiences with the differing climate in New York.
“It’s a lot colder … and more rainy [in New York]. And the summers are more humid,” Kella said.
Ninth grader Charlotte Titmarsh said she has lived in L.A. her whole life and described her experience with L.A. winters. Titmarsh associates the winter season with holidays and traditions.
“Usually, around the holidays, you always go over to my grandparents house. And we have dinner with them,” Titmarsh said. “We always decorate the house. And every year, my dad and I make a gingerbread house together.”
English teaching apprentice Sala Bandele-Jackson has lived in both Alabama and New York. In her survey response, she wrote about winter in L.A. compared to other places.
“Winter in L.A. doesn’t compare to the other places normally. However, because it generally doesn’t get very cold or wet here in the winter, I’m never prepared for the drastic winter in L.A. compared to winter in the other places. I also think that the city of L.A. isn’t prepared for winters like this,” Bandele-Jackson wrote. “For example, a lot of homes don’t have central heat and air. So 48 degrees with the heater only being in the living room is pretty intense. Although, not having to shovel or drive in the snow is pretty amazing and I’ll never complain about that.”
